The Top 10 Uncool Cannabis Acts to Commit During 4/20

Happy 4/20 everyone! It's finally time to celebrate marijuana's biggest holiday and we couldn't be more excited. There is no universal right or wrong way to identify as a cannabis enthusiast but there are a few things one might want to avoid to maintain good standing among your fellow humans – especially around 4/20. Check out the top 10 uncool stoner actions to avoid while celebrating this year:

1. Stealing Lighters

The most mundane of smoking accessories is also one of the most crucial. A missing lighter is often noticed when it is most needed, which makes the offense both extra annoying and memorable. Not to mention on 4/20 a lost lighter could delay or impede celebrations and nobody wants that!

Don't be "that person" and deprive someone of their lighter on 4/20!

The stigma of stolen lighters is so prevalent that it has spawned a niche industry of products to alleviate the issue, from lighter leashes to charms. As we’ve discussed here at PotGuide before, one of the key elements of memory that cannabis affects is spatial encoding, and this is likely to be the cause of this problem. Referential memory, which stuff like muscle memory will fall under, is still intact, so one is likely to remember to put a lighter away, but less likely to remember to check if it is indeed their lighter first.

2. Bragging About How Much You Consume

Related Articles

Listening to talk about excessive smoking habits is just plain boring. No one cares how much cannabis you consumer. If anything, a heavy consumer is probably more fascinated by how little it takes someone to get lifted. We’re unsure how anyone gets it into their worldview that needing a small forest of cannabis to feel medicated is a positive attribute, but let me assure you real loud and clear, it isn’t. Plus, given the fact that cannabis affects everyone differently, it’s always a good idea to be respectful of the consumption habits of others and be aware that someone might need much less cannabis than you to feel the intended effects. There will be plenty of new consumers with low tolerances around during 4/20 – do your best to make them feel comfortable if you end up blazing together!

3. Hating on Cannabis Preferences

“You don’t smoke dabs?” Not everyone enjoys the full spectrum of cannabis offerings, and some people outright get nothing from them (shout out to all my people with livers that don’t produce sufficient P450 enzymes to break down THC). Being a snob about cannabis preferences (including the preference to not partake) makes a person look close-minded. Cannabis is about enhancing experiences (especially on 4/20), so encouraging people to do things they don’t enjoy feels very anti-cannabis. You’ll find others tend to prefer discussing mutually enjoyed cannabis interactions, or you know, things not about cannabis, like art or hobbies.

4. Being Disrespectful

This one is pretty in-line with action number 3, but considering others when lighting up goes a long way in making a good impression. If you’re in a social setting this 4/20, at the very least, you should be asking if your smoking would bother anyone, and be willing to relocate to a reasonable place if it is offensive. Assuming that “it’s 4/20 and everyone is down” and unleashing a cloud of your dankest stock on an unwilling public is a very uncool move. Not everyone enjoys the smell of cannabis or wants to participate in 4/20 celebrations. Be respectful of your fellow humans and set a good example for other cannabis enthusiasts!

5. Reek

As mentioned, pot is pungent, and not everyone prefers the smell. Even small considerations like opening a window or making sure to wash your hands after a blunt or joint (few people realize that a large portion of the lingering smell resides there) can have a large reduction in aroma.

Be courteous of others when you light up to celebrate 4/20.

Maybe don’t hotbox the bathroom before heading out for the evening, or opt to change clothes after an extensive session. Concentrates are known for being better at managing smell, as well. In the modern smoking scene, the image of the “smelly stoner” has no place, nor does it need to. Of course, on 4/20 it’s hard to limit all your cannabis odor, but making an effort to be courteous goes a long way for the public image of marijuana’s biggest holiday.

6. Hate on Non-Consumers

There are a myriad of reasons why someone would decline in partaking in cannabis. How it acts in your body may be very different from how it acts in theirs. Many have jobs with draconian cannabis policies, and don’t want to risk their livelihood. Don’t be rude, if someone declines an offered smoke, don’t push it or make fun of them. It’s just poor form.

7. Too Much Slobber

Slobbering on a joint is an age-old faux pas. It’s so old that it even has an old-timey ultra-racist term for it that no one should ever repeat. Don’t slobber on your joints, and especially don’t smoke with anyone who would use that term.

8. Heavy Use of Stoner Slang

If you use the words “dank” or “heady” more than once in a conversation about bud, you’ve used it too much. Yes, occasionally, it’s the only term for what you’re trying to convey, but not everything is dank. Please cool it. Same for “nugs.” Even the term “marijuana” pretty frowned upon in serious circles. For many in the cannabis space, pot is a pretty normal thing, and the speech around it reflects that. This 4/20, try and add some sophistication to your smoke sesh and help usher in the new era of non-stereotypical cannabis consumers.

9. Smoke Yourself Stupid

One of the biggest bummers is someone who can’t hang. If one or two tokes is your limit, your fellow cannabis enthusiasts would much prefer to enjoy you in a happy place, and not zonked out of your skull. This is especially important for 4/20 as many people consume more than usual in celebration.

If you do accidentally get too high, follow these tips to get back on track to enjoying your day.

So, be prepared and pace yourself throughout the day. Most frowned-upon smoking activities can be likened to an awkward, rebellious teenager. It just shows you have no self-control, and you won’t be fun to hand around.

10. Conflate Cannabis and Other Substances

Pot is not LSD. Endless media depictions seem to convey cannabis as something it is not, and if you do this too, it’s comes across as kind of heavily uncool. Cannabis is a drug; of course, any substance that alters our bodies is a drug. However, each drug is its own distinctive entity. Cannabis has come a long way in distinguishing its unique place in the world, and attempts to conflate it with other substances feel regressive and out of touch. Instead of grouping cannabis in with other drugs, take a moment to learn up on the ways cannabis influences the effects of other substances. You’ll find pretty quickly that it’s pretty unique from other popular drugs!

This 4/20, avoid these pratfalls and keep on toking. Most importantly, have an awesome day celebrating cannabis!

Do you have any uncool actions to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Matthew Mongelia is a freelance writer hailing from Miami, Florida and now hangs his many hats in Denver. Matthew is the co-creator of the comic Dark Beach,and an avid enthusiast of chocolate and short fiction.